Information about PML and JC.

Mar 13, 2005

Could you please tell me about PML and JC. I don't know what JC stands for. What, if any, meds are there for it. And what's the diagnosis.

Response from Dr. Conway

PML stands for Progressive Multifocal Leukoenecephalopathy. it is caused by viruses of the wart family, of which the JC virus. JC does not stand for anything in particular, except that it is the initials of the person from whom the virus was initially isolated. It is a ubiquitous virus, acquired by 90% of people in the pre-school years. In people with normal immune systems, it is quite harmless. But in advanced AIDS, the virus can reactivate and cause widespread (or Multifocal) disease of the brain. There is no specific treatment for it. It will resolve on its own if the immune system improves, as with HAART. Wihtout this, it is usually fatal over a number of weeks or months.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.